Nobody Knows What They’re Doing Have you ever found yourself glancing around a room (or a Zoom meeting, or a group chat, or the chaos of your living room) and wondered, “Who put me in charge—don’t they know I still feel sixteen most days?” Yeah, me too. In this episode of “Different, Not Broken,” I, Lauren Howard—L2 for the cool kids —am letting you in on the messiest, most liberating secret of adulthood: nobody, and I mean nobody, actually knows what they’re doing. This isn’t some polished, per...
Jun 25, 2025•22 min•Ep. 11
Well done, you've decided to escape MAGA. Here's the learning moment. Your trauma is not an excuse to create more trauma It finally happened. Someone said it out loud. Someone from the inside. Not in a viral Twitter thread or anonymous Reddit post, but right here, in full view and full voice. Most of us have our ideas — the way we imagine 'the MAGA community'. We picture the caricature: all bluster and bravado, insulated in an impenetrable echo chamber, barking at the world. But do we ever ask, ...
Jun 18, 2025•39 min•Ep. 10
Have you ever caught yourself rehearsing your 'acceptable' self before walking into a room full of strangers? You know — slapping on that thin, artificial smile, smoothing out every quirk for the comfort of everyone else, and realizing you’re running a (very professional) version of a one-person Broadway show called, “Make Me Palatable”? Hi, I’m Lauren Howard (People call me "L2"), and this week on " Different, Not Broken" , we’re pressing record on a conversation most of us never have out loud:...
Jun 11, 2025•23 min•Ep. 9
Yep, I'm back, caffeinated and undeterred, ready to take on the swirling mess of “autism registries,” junk science, and that perennial fixture of Twitter meltdowns: RFK Jr. himself. This week’s episode - “Autism Registry - RFK can suck a lawnmower.” It's not for the faint of heart—or for anyone who thinks the federal government has a “big red medical record button” (newsflash: it doesn’t). Are you exhausted by the flood of misinformation around autism and tired of policymakers who couldn’t diagn...
Jun 04, 2025•27 min•Ep. 8
I’m obsessed with my own podcast stats. There! I said it. If the first step is admitting you have a problem, then…well, consider this episode my very public confession. But here’s the real kicker: I never saw this coming. I didn’t realize hitting 'refresh' on the analytics page of my podcast hosting dashboard would become my new form of adrenaline. Or that watching the listener count go up (or, terrifyingly, down) would trigger a rollercoaster of feelings straight out of a neurotic coming-of-age...
May 30, 2025•7 min
Why is behavioral health so impossibly hard to access, navigate, and survive—especially if you’re wired a bit differently? Maybe you’ve asked yourself that before. We have too. Heck, we’ve made a whole business (and apparently, a whole podcast) out of asking exactly that: Why does it have to be so hard ? Welcome to “Different, Not Broken”—the podcast where bureaucratic tangles, soul-draining waitlists, and “bring your own magic decoder ring” healthcare red tape get ripped apart, re-examined, and...
May 28, 2025•24 min•Ep. 7
Why you have to ask the 'stupid' questions. Seriously. And, Freud's boring. Not opinion. Actual science. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But, L2, I’d rather set my hair on fire than look clueless in front of a room full of people (or, for that matter, one person I secretly—or not-so-secretly—want to impress).” Hi! I’m Lauren Howard (but you can call me L2—everyone does), and this is Different, Not Broken —the podcast for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re the only person who can’t quite re...
May 21, 2025•24 min•Ep. 6
I'm saying it out loud - a paycheck is not a permission slip for abuse. I added some bullhorn for effect. Hey, It’s "Different, Not Broken", and I’m Lauren Howard — "L2" if you’re friendly or just prefer to keep things efficient. And I’m here to shatter one of the workplace’s worst-kept secrets: the idea that a direct deposit into your bank account means you have to swallow abuse, keep quiet, and thank your lucky stars someone’s tolerating you. Spoiler alert — it doesn’t. But it’s not all righte...
May 14, 2025•21 min•Ep. 5
Welcome to "Different, not broken." I’m Lauren Howard—most people call me L2—and I’m here to shake up everything you think you know about 'professionalism'. In this episode, I’m explaining why professionalism, as it’s sold to us, is pretty much bullshit. We’re told we have to fit this narrow, stuffy standard to survive in the workplace, but let’s be real: that standard was designed to exclude anyone who isn’t a 45-year-old white guy. I talk about how, especially in mental health and helping prof...
May 07, 2025•20 min•Ep. 4
The world often feels rigged. And this episode is a wake-up call to recognize the barriers that exist for those who don’t fit the traditional mold. In this episode, which is a kind of tribute to my dear departed Dad, I recount some powerful lessons from the man who was a brilliant psychiatrist and my biggest champion. He taught me that if something feels off about the environment you’re in, it probably is—and it’s absolutely hella-not your fault. We dare to break into the uncomfortable truth tha...
Apr 30, 2025•30 min•Ep. 3
I have two cousins. Two. And I didn’t even meet them until we were all adults. So, yeah—when people talk about the support they get from big, extended families, it’s not exactly the world I know. The importance of chosen family You want to talk about family? Mine has never really fit the greeting-card mold. Forget the idea that blood is always thicker than water. Turns out, the people who pick up the phone, drive hours at the drop of a hat, or tell you that you’re not the crazy one? Sometimes, t...
Apr 25, 2025•8 min
I’m all about showing up as my true self, and yeah, that means I drop the F-bomb like it’s confetti at a party. Some folks might be turned off by that, but honestly? I couldn’t give a f...! We need to all be about embracing who we are, flaws and all, and that includes my colorful vocabulary. So in this episode, I want to talk with you about how being authentic can actually draw the right people to you – those who vibe with your unapologetic self. So, kick back, grab your jar of fu*ks, throw one ...
Apr 23, 2025•16 min•Ep. 2
This episode is a rallying cry for empathy and understanding, especially for those who are non-verbal or struggle to communicate. Stop calling the police on Brown and Black people Did you catch the story of Victor Perez? If you didn't, I urge you to do so. In this bonus episode of "Different, not broken" I want to explore the layers of miscommunication that led to his death and how society's perception of 'threat' is often skewed by race and misunderstanding. We have an urgent need for crisis in...
Apr 18, 2025•13 min
Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Everybody does. I'm the CEO who says fuck on the internet a lot. We'll get more into that later... Our podcast "Different, Not Broken" isn't fucking about. We'll explore the often-overlooked dichotomy between being different and feeling broken. It's my jam to recognize individuality, particularly among those who have been systematically marginalized for their unique traits. This episode serves as a foundational exploration of this podcast's ethos: to ch...
Apr 16, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1
You are different, not broken! And this podcast is for you. The podcast delves into the profound notion that societal norms often dictate how individuals should perceive themselves and their identities. The speakers assert that the premise of conformity is fundamentally flawed; they challenge the idea that one's inherent characteristics warrant correction or modification. Through candid reflections on personal experiences, they explore the concept of embracing one's 'boring' life as a means of h...
Apr 03, 2025•1 min
